No10

Nobody interested in my passage of play, but I totally agree with AFarr. Garland has been playing for TMacs whole career, why is Bugg the one that knows to cover him? Why doesn't Garland run? Seriously, he's in the leadership group and he's standing there not instructing, not making himself an option, not doing anything. Why doesn't Garland run?

I have no idea if screenshots work on this forum.... but a lot of people are talking about Garland and I saw several of these moments from him: Dees up by 2 points in the last. 5 minutes gone so players should still have legs. TMac attacks from the front and fails, spoil allows the ball past. Garland is standing in front flat-footed. Bugg runs straight past Garland to make the tackle, preventing an open goal and is paid a free for Ess holding the ball. TMac instantly runs forward to create an option. Garland stands next to Bugg. Bugg switches to Dom who is the only player apart from TMac running. Dom has nowhere to kick so goes long to Gawn, beaten in a 2-1 and the ball comes back, Garland two steps behind. Personally, I see TMac attacking well. Bugg covers well. Dom creates well. If Garland had made an option, the rebound down the wing would've been fast and aggressive. Switching to Dom locked it in.

Having so few Dees in the top 50 (whatever list/ranking you look at) is surely the biggest weakness now. But as said, these are based on last year and assumptions. I'd hope next year Jones will be top 20, meaning this year he really is damaging, with the support he now has in the middle. Then have another 4-5 players in there: Vince, Viney, Hogan, Gawn, ? If Geel have the highest rank midfield- then I can't wait to see Dees vs Geel this year: Vince V Danger - Viney V Selwood - Gawn V Stanley - Jones smashing whoever else. Robbo is living a year in the past, his list is rubbish, but the lack of Dees is hardly surprising and needs to change

Surely there's no other side with this scale of potential improvement across so many players. Tyson, VB, Salem, Brayshaw, Kent, Gawn. Even Jones is going next level with his new neck and confidence as Capt. Viney is out of control. Watts might even do something, I'm a believer... still. Plus the mindset from the coaching group has shifted from nurturing to a winning culture, that will push us into the 8. Roosy's final year as coach, I hope his intensity goes right up. This is a finals year, that should be the expectation at every level.

Makes a lot of sense. I really dislike seeing players out of their natural position though. Especially agree that defense is such a unit, so not embedding Frost early surely doesn't help long term? Assuming that's where he should play. 2nd ruck seems the big question looking ahead.

Can see Gawn having a real impact while resting up forward. But does 2nd ruck need to be a straight swap of positions? As in, why can't Frost be backline and back-up ruck?

I'm sure DC heard exactly what he said. The worst case scenario from corporate lawyers is rarely the actual worst case scenario. "Surprised at the outcome" is the most overused phrase and that's what the advice is actually designed for; the official line. All the top end, including PJ, would've made their own private judgements and expectations.

Great work WJ. The Age article is also brilliant, she just wrote out the conversation without imposing all her own observations. I enjoyed the comment about Brayshaw could be captain of Melbourne in five years. There were rumors about trac falling out of favor after the psyc evaluation, he certainly seems to have shown great character during rehab. Be interested to know if her book talks about this anywhere. Great passages though, appreciate the posts

I did suggest resting Brayshaw before or directly after the bye. He was consistently in our top players and highest tacklers, it was likely he'd be injured or become burnt out. Then he did have an injury v WC and has been in the lower half since. I'm not saying I was right, but I don't think you can say it was a bad idea either. I wouldn't rest him now however.

I thought Roos' comments could have been a jab at Jones. He hasn't stepped up as expected. Jones had a poor game, but worse was his attitude seemed introverted and down. We've lacked leadership these past few weeks and if we lost that's where the blame would've gone. It's not as inspired, but Scott Selwood could help bring some leadership and class to the midfield. Or just go all out for Danger!

Club should totally do this - should hire AC/DC. Do the whole thing, HB intro and cover the MFC song, save the traditional version for after the win. Then have them perform it live at the 2017 GF with Hogan&Jones leading through the banner! Add some pyro. Certain win.

I'm with you O. It's also interesting to hear players and coaches talk more openly about Watts, he must be the biggest unknown of any player on our list. Everyone is tradable etc.. however Roos has a tendency to find players with untapped value rather than giving them away. I like him, especially last week, see how he goes today!

"Winning team who shot itself in the foot", I like that, agreed. However on this selection thread, I'm suggesting Roos has selected the sub poorly. Jordie, M Jones. If you had selection again, would you pick M Jones as sub? Tyson was Casey BOG. On some occasions, like a huge QB match, Roos should go harder for the win.

Stuie, management isn't only taking the safest option. If Tyson played as sub instead of M Jones do you think the result might be different? I'd say there's a significant chance. M Jones isn't an impact player, Tyson is. People here want Roos to stop making excuses, start going after wins. I agree with that, certainly to the extent of putting Tyson in that position. That game is over - I'm saying resting Brayshaw will be considered but is a totally different case to Tyson.

My management policy is pretty simple: First year player- perhaps don't rely on him to win games Hogans Heros. Fourth year player- is given plenty of time to recover, bring in as sub to help win important game. Irrelevant about further injury, that could happen anywhere. Match fitness? Team win first.

Sometimes you got to select the team to win. I'm all for management (Brayshaw this week) but Tyson could have been the difference in the last. What's better for the team- QB win or Tyson regaining match fitness at Casey?

You want to wait for the evidence?! First year kid + on Etihad + toughest opening fixture + rising star win + know when you're on top = manage

Lost the game for many reasons but selecting MJones instead of Tyson as sub must have been a big call, the wrong call. IN Tyson, Dawes, ANB OUT Vanders, MJones, Brayshaw Playing Brayshaw into the ground is the kind of rubbish decision of Melbourne past. Mitchie in for Viney if injured.

BB I'm with you on the spray. If the forward line isn't bringing the ball to ground then why not pump that into them at 3/4 time? I love what Roos has done, but he does coach like a guy that has zero pressure on him. The team is better, the results need to be better.

I believe Roos dropped Watts and had Watts take responsibility. Good coaching IMO. Watts has the skills but not the intensity, makes him the most frustrating player to watch and probably the most frustrating to coach. I don't understand why people here so badly want Roos to name the underperforming players, as if that will somehow set a standard? It's obvious who isn't stepping up. Each is a different player, requires a different approach. It sounds like some posters want Neeld back. The club direction over the past 18 months has been incredible, the players recruited are proving to be masterful choices. I get frustrated like the next guy but who can't see a seriously good team emerging from the absolute disaster that we were?

Dunn. 1 tackle. Doubt that torp is a Roos play, he just wanted it out of the defensive zone.

Seems more like a tea drinker

That suggests that we have the right team balance, so we can't swap a Bail/MJones for Riley. However the problem against Port was that we allowed them to play a running game when we should have won the ball at the stoppages and slowed it down. I think the real reason Bail and MJones are in the team is because they're 26/27 and on last chance - Riley is 23 (and selected by Roos) different program.

Seems player weeding is exactly their process, but you got to play them to know what they're capable of. At least Garland is proving himself again, Grimes too. At seasons end we know who to keep or trade value. Howe must perform better, no use dropping him to the VFL, he needs to be found out at the level. Watts, even on the outside he doesn't really want the ball, how do you coach that? Roos has tried just about everything. Anyway, I'd also prefer some fight and less excuses, to see Riley in the team over M Jones. Plus I believe Riley might be better than some give credit.

With respect to someone 6000 odd posts ahead of me, culture is exactly the failure I see on field when momentum is lost. Jones tries to lead by example but can't do it alone so disappears, I have no idea what Dunn is doing. Surely leadership is confidence and belief, then instilling that into the players around you. When challenged, these guys crumble as leaders and play for themselves. That's what Roos says and exactly what I see. Jones will eyeball the young players like Brawshaw and Kent, but seems to lack confidence to do that with the others.